Strengthening Human Trafficking Collaboration for Victims Encountering the Criminal Justice System.

Waymakers will implement the project “Strengthening Human Trafficking Collaboration for Victims Encountering the Criminal Justice System.”  The project aims to strengthen existing collaborative partnerships that support the implementation of various services to victims of human trafficking. These services will include, but not be limited to, the delivery of emergency resources and trauma-informed crisis intervention for victims recovered by law enforcement; the provision of independent living and skill-building tools as part of a comprehensive response; and the implementation of a multi-disciplinary and best practices integrated response between governmental and nongovernmental organizations.  This coordinated approach creates a successful alternative pathway for longer-term quality of life care that is mutually beneficial for those already encountering the criminal justice system and with the intention of helping to further reduce the impact of crime within the community. The purpose is to improve the quality of life for human trafficking victims who have encountered the criminal justice system. The project will serve all forms of human trafficking identified in and/or living in Orange County, California. The current victim-centered collaborative work in Orange County to identify and assist victims of human trafficking includes key criminal justice stakeholders: local and federal law enforcement, local and federal prosecution, probation, child welfare system, and Orange County Juvenile Court. The project will specifically partner with the Anaheim Police Department as a subrecipient to enhance reactive and proactive law enforcement encounters early on in an investigation. The project activities include the implementation of a 24-hour human trafficking victim advocate response team for law enforcement, train community-based partners on how to work with human trafficking victims and collaborative case management services and increase the effectiveness of screening and coordinated responses with government partners. This includes court support for victims with cases filed for prosecution against the victim’s trafficker and referrals from probation for youth victims of commercial sexual exploitation at juvenile hall to access the continuation of services. The community-based services activities include case management and referrals to housing support, immigration relief and legal support for foreign born victims, therapy, furthering education and career exploration and job training. The expected outcomes include maintaining a multidisciplinary team response for victims, create more effective ways to streamline and coordinate services, regular collaborative program assessments, data-driven analysis of case management services, and increase in more youths diverted through the dependency side of the juvenile court system.